UPDATE: Venezuela has just deployed warships and drones to bolster coastal defenses as tensions escalate with the United States, which has dispatched three destroyers to the Caribbean. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced significant military mobilizations, including naval patrols and drone operations, to assert control over the nation’s waters.
This urgent military buildup follows last week’s U.S. deployment of three guided-missile destroyers and 4,000 Marines aimed at curbing drug trafficking linked to President Nicolas Maduro. In a stark escalation, a U.S. source confirmed that President Donald Trump is sending two additional ships, the USS Erie and the nuclear-powered USS Newport News, to the region next week.
Despite this show of force, analysts suggest that an invasion is unlikely. Many Venezuelans seem unfazed by the military posturing. Maduro, who claimed a controversial third term in the July 2024 elections, has faced relentless pressure from Washington but remains in power. “What we’re witnessing is an attempt to create anxiety within the Maduro government,” said Phil Gunson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
In a dramatic response, the Venezuelan government is mobilizing 15,000 troops to its border with Colombia to combat drug trafficking and bolster national security. “Venezuela is a clean territory, free of drug trafficking,” Maduro declared during a televised address, asserting the government’s commitment to fighting drug cartels.
The United States has intensified its focus on Maduro, accusing him of leading a cocaine trafficking operation known as the Cartel de los Soles. Recently, the U.S. doubled the bounty for Maduro’s capture to $50 million amid allegations of drug-related crimes.
In a separate announcement, Defense Minister Padrino revealed that Venezuelan forces dismantled shipyards used by criminals to build semisubmersible vessels for drug transport, known as “narco subs.” These vessels, while not fully submerged, often evade detection and are frequently intercepted in Colombian waters.
In a bid for international support, Caracas has petitioned the United Nations, demanding an immediate halt to U.S. military deployments in the Caribbean. The ongoing tensions highlight the complex dynamics of U.S.-Venezuela relations, which have been fraught with accusations and military posturing since Trump’s first term.
As the situation develops, the world watches closely, with both nations reinforcing their military presence in a region already marked by instability and conflict. The implications of these actions could be monumental, affecting not only Venezuela but the broader geopolitical landscape.
Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.